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J. M. RUSEBRUOK. 7 Means for Connecting Gear-Wheels with their Shafts for Use in Harvesting-Machines, &c. NO.]59,22] PatentedJan.'26,1875.

THE SRAPRIC CG-FHOTO-LITH.39& VARK FLACEJLY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrFIon JOHN M. ROSEBROOK, OF HOOSIOK FALLSpNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER A. VVQOD MQWING AND REAPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR CONNECTING GEAR-WHEELS WITH THEIR SHAFTS FOR USE IN HARVESTINGMACHINES, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,22 1, dated January 26, 1875; application filed November 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. ROSEBROOK, of Hoosick Falls, county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Connecting Gear-Wheels with their Shafts, more particularly adapted for use in harvesting-machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the pinion and the ratchet-case applied to the shaft. Fig. 2 represents a section through the same, taken in line with the center of the shaft. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the interior of the ratchet-caseand the curved friction-rod or spring which controls the pawl; and Fig; 4 is a perspective view of the inner face of the pawl plate or disk, showing, in dotted lines, the relation of the friction-rod thereto.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

The invention relates to a novel means for securing the pinion upon its shaft, and to a particular construction and arrangement of the backing-ratchet, pawl, and friction-rod or spring controlling the pawl, as hereinafter explained.

Ordinarily, in the attachment of a pinion to its shaft, where the pinion was employed in connection with a backin g-ratchet, making it essential that it should be connected with the shaft or mounted thereon in such manner as to be free to rotate independently of the shaft, or to permit the rotation of the shaft independently of the pinion, it has been usual,

where the pinion was located at the end of the shaft, to secure it by means of a washer overlapping the face of the pinion, and a screw passing through a perforation in the washer into the end of the shaft, and, where the pinion was located at any other point on the shaft, by a collar held in place against the face of the pinion by a screw; but in these constructions difficulty has been experienced from the fact that, with the washer and screw at the end of the shaft, the screw was liable to be backed out in the backin g of the pinion, or of its shaft, and in the use of the collar with its retaining-screw, the latter, holding the collar only by its frictional grasp of the shaft, left the collar liable to be displaced by the backing of the screw, incident to the jarring of the machine.

One object of my invention is to remedy the difficulty referred to by dispensing with the screw attachment, and substituting therefor a device which will obviate all liability of accidental displacement or detachment of the pinion while in operation. and. which at the same time permits its ready removal when at rest for repairs and for other purposes; and to this end this part of the invention consists in retaining the pinion in position on its shaft in such manner as to leave it free to rotate relatively thereto by means of a spring-latch secured to the shaft and engaging with the face of the pinion, or of a groove formed therein, as will be explained.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the backing-ratchet arrangement, while at the same time obviating the objectionable clicking due to the backing action of these ratchet devices as ordinarily constructed; and this part of the invention consists in a novel arrangement, in connection with the ratchet and pawl which permit the backing action of the shaft or of its pinion, of the bent frictionrod or spring, which holds the pawl engaged with the ratchet in the forward movement, and disengaged and away from the ratchet in the backing movement, of the machine, as hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the pinion-shaft, and B the pinion mounted loosely thereon. The shaft is grooved longitudinally upon one side at a, and within this groove is placed a spring, I), provided at one end with a spur, D which enters a socket at a in the shaft at the inner end of the groove a. The opposite end of this spring b is bent at a right angle in the reverse direction to ,the spur b as shown at N, and overlaps the face of the pinion B, or enters a groove or rabbet formed therein, as shown at c. To the inner end of the pinion B, either cast or otherwise rigidly connected therewith, is an enlarged cylindrical case or shell, B B provided on its inner periphery with ratchetteeth D. The open end of this cylindrical ratchet-case is closed by a disk, E, provided with a hub, F, which projects inwardly, and at its inner end abuts against the inner face of the pinion B or the inner face of the ratchet-disk B and is permanently secured to the shaft A by a through-pin at f. This hub projects over the spring I), and serves to hold it in place in its groove, and, as will be readily seen, the pinion B is thus effectually held between the hub and the spur b of the spring I), while at the same time it is free to rotate on its shaft. For removing the pinion the spur b may be pressed inward, the groove to being of sufficient depth to permit this movement, until the end of the spur passes within the circle of the perforation in the pinion for the reception of the shaft, when the pinion can be readily withdrawn. If preferred, the arrangement of the pinion and spring may be such that the pinion itself will hold the spring in place, while the spring in turn holds the pinion on its shaft.

The hub F isirregular in form, being enlarged or elongated upon one side, where a socket, F is formed in it for the reception of the enlarged pivotal hub G at the inner end of the pawl G, .which fits in the socket 1 in such manner that it can only be withdrawn by an endwise movement, which is prevented when the parts are in place by the ratchetdisk B against or in close proximity with which the inner face of the pawl rests, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer curved face of the pawl near its pivoted end has spurs or lugs g 9 formed upon it, and between these, or in an eye formed in a single lug or spur, is placed the bent end or spur h of a curved friction-rod, H. The rod H'is bent in the arc of a circle conforming to the circle of the ratchet-teeth, and rests against and in frictional contact therewith, being held in this relation by having its end h turned inward in U form in such manner as to cause it to rest against a shoulder formed at F on the hub F. The outer faceof the free end of the pawl at g and of the hub F at f are cut away to receive the rod H, or rather to afford room for said rod between the pawl and hub and the ratchetdisk, the relation of the parts being shown in full lines, Figs. 2 and 3, and in the dotted lines, Fig. 4.

The operation of this clutch or backingratchet is as follows, viz: In the forward movement of the machine, motion being imparted to the pinion B by any usual or preferred arrangement of driving-gear, the friction-rod H, resting in contact with the teeth D, and being carried with them, presses against the rear lug g of the pawl G, and, forcing the free end of said pawl outward, causes it to engage with the ratchet-teeth D, and thus to carry the shaft with the pinion. In backing the pinion B the movement of the rod H is reversed, and, acting on the outer lug g of the pawl, it draws the pawl inward until its free end is clear of the ratchet-teeth, in which position it is held as long as the backward rotation is continued, and the clicking noise consequent upon backing the usual spring-pawl over each tooth is effectually avoided.

Having now described my invention, I would state that I am aware that backingratchets in which the pawl is controlled by a friction-rod or spring is not new, and I therefore do not claim such device, broadly; but

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The spring-latch b, in combination with the shaft and pinion for retaining the latter in position on the shaft, as described.

2. The pawl G, connected with its shaft A by means of the recessed hub F, and provided with the spurs g, in combination with the friction-rod H and ratchetrim B rigidly connected with the pinion B, all constructed, arranged, and operating as described.

JOHN M. ROSEBROOK.

Witnesses:

A. (J. EDDY, A. T. SKINNER. 

